26th President of the United States of America
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt
Born: October 27, 1858 in New York, New York
Died: January 6, 1919 in Oyster Bay, New York
Political Party: Republican
Terms in Office: 1901 - 1909
Vice President(s): (1901-1905) No Vice President between these years. (1905-1909) Charles W. Fairbanks

When "Teddy" was brutally thrust into Presidency (because of the assassination of his predecessor William McKinley), he also became the youngest President that the United States had seen up until that point, at the age of 42. He came with a vision of strong foreign policy and progressive reforms. Some of Teddy's greatest achievements were in conservation, reservation and irrigation. For all of his good, honest work, I award thee, Theodore Roosevelt an A.
When given the burden of Presidency, Roosevelt proclaimed to the people that he would continue the policies of his predecessor. And for that he was sneered at. But on the all, Teddy was a champion. In 1901, he used his talent of negotiation to persuade the British to repeal the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty (signed in 1850, said that the United States could not secure exclusive control over such a route) and sign the Hay-Pauncefote Treaty instead, which allowed the United States full freedom to build on that land and fortify it. The building of this canal was one of the most important decisions he ever made.
It is without a doubt that Theodore used talent to, what some people would call interfering, become friendly with neighbourinig countries, especially in the Caribbean Sea. But he did promote peace amongst these countries and was also given a Noble Peace prize for settling the Russo-Japanese War in 1906.
These were some of his goals. To promote a sense of (i wouldn't call it allegiance) good will amongst all countries. And because the Caribbean was the closest, they were the ones mainly effected. He was also big on reform and actually took notice of issues behind the scenes. In 1906, he put in place the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act, in an attempt to put only the best of products on the market, for the health and satisfaction of customers. He definitely achieved these goals, whether he knew it or not.
For the benefit of the United States, the building of Panama Canal was the best decision because it extended the sphere of influence in which the United States currently held in that area. As well as broadening this influence, it made it a lot easier to travel from the West side of the Americas to the East and vise versa. But to benefit the rest of the world, it would probably have been the prevention of the Russo-Japanese War. The prevention of any war is a good thing, and therefore, i would say that without his talent, the war would have continued, and blood would have been spilt.
His worst decision was also the Panama Canal. To take land from the surrounding areas and use it for mainly the United States' use is a little disrespectful. If you think about it, it's much like Jamestown. Although the United States' intentions were clearly past colonialism, the fact that it was land taken, almost without any permission at all for one purpose; the benefit of the invading (not really the word i want but you get the point) country.
All this, I believe, gives my grade justice. He achieved all his goals, and more. What more do you want? He did all he could for world allegiance; for world peace.


Bibliography:

"Biography of Theodore Roosevelt." Welcome to the White House. 03 Jan. 2009 <http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/tr26.html>.

Kennedy, David M., Lizabeth Cohen, and Thomas A. Bailey. American Pageant : Advanced Placement. Boston: Houghton Mifflin College Division, 2001.